Arizona weekly citizen., 1887-09-24

D0u insisnee ih 5atilculsf ahefo ibc snake was longer by fully two feet thG1 The small boy who held it, twisted itself first around one leg and then the other m such s manner that to move was to fall. The predIcamaDt of the UT chin called forth c grand outburst of tnerrimen', get it looked anything but funuy to the boy. A body of women and girls. whcse duty seemed to be toI scatter neal upon the dancers as they pessed, were al several different times shaken by fesr, almost into egue f:s, by some of the more ambitious snakes who went exploring theIr naked legs. csus- ing such scrseching and screaming that more fslIy confirmed the impress sion. that the world over, the femsle sex are the same--sf aid of such pet things as toads, snakes and mice. How many times the rcuit was made CT how many snakes were on hand 1t would be hard to tell, vet serpents were plenty sDd seem ed to be in excellent condition, to judge from the way they resisted capture, after having been dropped from the mouth; but there was at least one hun dred and fifty.
 The men who picked the sCrponts of the ground did so with caution and not in the intrepid manner wh oh might be supposed; in fact, a monkey could not pick u chestnut from the ire more gingerly. yet they retained great sang frOid and after they had gathered a bunch of snakes, carried 1t quite IBunn ly. They have & way of catching hls snakeship nea, the head, giving the arm Q violent shake which dazes or shakes the snake into something like bjeoiion. When 1t is chsnged from the righ. hand into the lett, 1t hangs ID limp, helpless wsy ana is then given to some other Co take care of or else retained until the arm is as full ss it can hold. Those wbo danced with the snakes not infre- quently had three or four at the same | tune in the mouth, which of all the per tormsnces was the most repulsive. To seea human being going the rounds with hIs entire face hidden behind the snakes, not a feature visible, was some thing to make the shudders creep up ou-'s bs K. which 1t did. Yet. there were sounds ofapplsuse from the natives gathered around, urging :he dancers tO attempt greater fests, such as taking | two of the lhrges. rattlers ID the mouth Ugh D at once, and in one instance a dancer held SO many snakes in his month, which twined around his face m hideous mask. ss If his head had been transformed into that of the fsbled Gorgon. These acts were invsri ably followed by sigh of relief, in the sound oi a grunr, that 1t be not repeat | ei, which was compiled with ouly when the supply of snakes gave out. IL is c notorious fact that an Indian will laugh st the mIsfOftures of others, but wher | he is drawn into the vortex of trouble the depth of grief or sorrow IS wonder. | iul. So 1t WAS with the spectators, un- til long whip snake fastened his teeth into the thumb of the noisies, one, and then it wGs truly ediiying to watch his facial contortions. As the bife of this class IS not venOmous, very little Btten ton was given to the accident.
 At the close ot the dance the snakes were sll gathered m & heap at the foo; of the snake rock; meal was thrown over them and then began 8 scramble among the snake men to get double hsndfuls, with which they run oil al the top Of their speed, oaFryIng their burdens down into the valley. where the snakes were turned loose and allow ed to find places of security beneath rocks and in holes. That the perform, CTS are thoroughly dOctored or medi, csted, prior to the commencement of the ceremonies, there cen be no doubt
 The eyes and the ecststic bearings oi the bodies attracts attention at once
 there IS peculiar lustre in the orbs and and an abnormal elasticity in the move, ment of the body
 The resction after the dance is remark. able. and while DO serious or lasting effects follow still they are left ia a very weak state, requiring mang hours of Elee? to fully restore them tO theiI normal condition. The wives, mothers and sisters of those who take part m ths ceremonIes carry great bowls of cooked
 food to the estufas where the men. sftel
 frs. washing iu A hqnor prepared bV
 the chiefs. p3rtske of the food and thu:
 ends tho festival.
 While 1t is probable that only a vague
 reliy yious idea forms the motive of this "snaks order" or society yet i. k piBus
 able % suppose that the ritual ibey use
 is direct call upon The supernatural powers for n favorable season, for rain
 and overflowing sp5ipgs; for these peo
 pie seem to desire but t@o special gifts
 from the gods. namely. health and plenty
 10 eat. To be relieved of their sips, ol delivered from doubts ss to hereafter
 they seem to know CT care little about
 in fact 1t has no part in Moqui theology I-COrrespondent Apache Go. Critic.
 MooUI VILLAGES. Ariz., Aug. 15th.